Public Statement on Alternative cures

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, several statements have been propagated about “immunity boosting” substances such as mustard oil, hydroxychloroquine and tea; alternative remedies claiming to provide either immunity or cure; and remedial effects of cow urine or even taweez. Some of these assertions were also supported by a few government functionaries at the centre and in various states. We, the undersigned, wish to put the following scientific facts in the public domain.

● As of now, no scientific studies show that any substance boosts the immune system specifically against COVID-19, be it modern medicines like hydroxychloroquine or homeopathic solutions like Arsenicum Album D30 or Ayurvedic preparations.

● Scientific evidence for the efficacy of any of these substances can only be obtained by rigorous testing through randomized clinical trials with COVID-19 patients, and additional laboratory analyses. Anecdotes of cure or temporary relief from symptoms or usefulness against similar diseases are not scientific proof of efficacy against COVID-19.

● Specific immunity against a bacterium or a virus can only arise in two ways. Either we were infected and recovered from the illness, or we are vaccinated; in either case we develop antibodies that can target the specific virus or bacterium.

● Colloquially, many people use the word “immunity” when they actually just mean “good health”. While a healthy diet and exercise improves a person’s general health (and the capacity of their immune system), this cannot make him/her immune from COVID-19. Further, the most severe cases of COVID-19 are made worse by an overreaction of the immune system. So trying to boost general immunity or trying to interfere with its regulation using untested methods, may be risky.

● Claims such as benefits of drinking cow urine, exposing people to UV light or injecting with disinfectants, are not supported by scientific evidence, and are in fact harmful to the human body. Similarly, while some supplements such as garlic may be harmless, others such as Zinc or Datura seeds, if taken in excess, are very toxic.

● These so-called remedies and/or immunity boosters may give people a false sense of security. Some people may wrongly assume that they won’t be affected by COVID-19 anymore, leading to risky behaviours such as not using a mask, not washing hands, or not following physical distancing protocols. Such unintentional violation of guidelines may have disastrous results by spreading COVID-19 to more people.

In summary, we want to stress that none of the so-called “immunity boosters” provide any known and/or validated protection against COVID-19. Some of the “remedies” being suggested are harmful for the human body. None of these remedies should be tried without proper medical supervision. It is necessary that people do not become complacent and lower their guard just because they have consumed these so-called remedies.

Date: 6th May 2020 1 Dr. Deepa Agashe Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 2 Dr. Meera Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 3 Dr. Ravinder Banyal Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 4 Prof. Srikanth Sastry Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 5 Dr. Vamsi Pritham Pingali Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 6 Prof. Ajit Srivastava Bhubaneswar , Odisha Faculty Member / Teaching professional 7 Prof. Enakshi Bhattacharya Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 8 Dr. G. Thangavel Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 9 Prof. K Venkata Subrahmanyam Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 10 Prof. Madhavan Mukund Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 11 Prof. R Ramanujam Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 12 Prof. Anna George Delhi , Delhi Faculty Member / Teaching professional 13 Dr. Debasish Borah Guwahati , Assam Faculty Member / Teaching professional 14 Prof. S N Hasan Hyderabad , Telangana Faculty Member / Teaching professional 15 Dr. Anindita Bhadra Kalyani , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 16 Prof. Ayan Banerjee Kalyani , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 17 Dr. Sudhir Kumbhar Karad , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 18 Prof. Damodar Maity Kharagpur , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 19 Dr. Arunabha Misra Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 20 Prof. Dibyendu Nandi Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 21 Prof. Jnana Brata Sil (জ্ঞানব্রত শীল) Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 22 Dr. Krishanu Maulik Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 23 Dr. Shamik Gupta Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 24 Prof. Soumitro Banerjee Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 25 Prof. Supratim Sengupta Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 26 Dr. Abhijit Majumder (অভিজিৎ মজমদু ার) Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 27 Dr. Aniket Sule Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 28 Prof. Amol Dighe Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 29 Dr. Jyoti Ashutosh Rao Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 30 Prof. Nagarjuna G. Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 31 Dr. S. Akshay Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 32 Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 33 Prof. Shubha Tole Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 34 Dr. Swagata Sarkar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 35 Dr. Sanved Kolekar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 36 Prof. Mahesh Shelar Nashik , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 37 Dr. Sudesh Ghoderao Nashik , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 38 Prof. Shanta Laishram New Delhi , Delhi Faculty Member / Teaching professional 39 Dr. Sonali Sengupta New Delhi , Delhi Faculty Member / Teaching professional 40 Dr. Abhay Kudale Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 41 Dr. Aurnab Ghose Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 42 Prof. Guruswamy Kumaraswamy Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 43 Dr. Mihir Arjunwadkar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 44 Dr. N.N.Inamdar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 45 Prof. Nissim Kanekar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 46 Dr. Pooja Sancheti Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 47 Prof. Poonam Chandra Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 48 Prof. Shruti Tambe Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 49 Dr. Sudha Rajamani Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 50 Prof. Sunil Mukhi Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 51 Dr. Surhud More Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 52 Prof. Vineeta Bal Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 53 Prof. Chittaranjan Kar Cuttack , Odisha Faculty Member / Teaching professional 54 Prof. Shakunthala Shahapur , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 55 Dr. Rajiv Sarkar Shillong , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 56 Dr. Bittu K R Sonipat , Haryana Faculty Member / Teaching professional 57 Dr. Sameet Mehta Woodbridge , USA Faculty Member / Teaching professional 58 Dr. Chandrashekara, K Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 59 Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 60 Prof. Kamal Lodaya Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 61 Prof. Prajval Shastri Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 62 Dr. Sabyasachi Chatterjee Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 63 Dr. R. Geeta Chennai , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 64 Dr. R. Usha Madurai , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 65 Dr. S. Krishnaswamy Madurai , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 66 Prof. Narendra Nayak Mangalore , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 67 Prof. Narendra Nayak Mangalore , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 68 Prof. Mayank Vahia Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 69 Prof. S. G. Dani Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 70 Dr. Jyotsna S. Dani Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 71 Prof. Mujtaba Lokhandwala Pune , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 72 Dr. T.Chandraguru Virudhunagar , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 73 Prof. यशवंत मा셁ती च핍हाण जयसिंगपूर , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 74 Mr. Mahesh Mane Badlpur , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 75 Ms. Shreeya Pal Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 76 Ms. Sujata Pramod Mhetre Kolhapur , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 77 Mr. Aniket Basu Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 78 Mr. Abdul Rahoof K A Malappuram , Kerala Faculty Member / Teaching professional 79 Ms. Neha Joglekar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 80 Mr. Prasad Adekar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 81 Mr. Swapnil Jawkar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 82 Ms. Mrinal Panaji , Goa Faculty Member / Teaching professional 83 Mr. Devkumar Ahire Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 84 Mr. Pramod Shinde Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 85 Mr. Rahul Magar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 86 Mr. Shantanu Ozarkar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 87 Mr. Kumar Nage Thane , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 88 Mr. Prakash Parkhe Thane , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 89 Ms. Rekha Ghorpade Thane , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 90 Mr. Vidyanand Nanjundiah Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 91 Mr. Rituparno Goswami Jorhat , Assam Superannuated researcher / teacher 92 Mr. Riyazuddin Shaikh Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 93 Mr. Vinayak Katdare Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 94 Dr. Sanhita Joshi Austin, Tx , USA Science Educator / Communicator 95 Mr. Amjad M Syed Bengaluru , Karnataka Science Educator / Communicator 96 Dr. Dr.R.N.Raja Naik. Bengaluru , Karnataka Science Educator / Communicator 97 Prof. M Abdul Rehman Pasha Bengaluru , Karnataka Science Educator / Communicator 98 Mr. Prasad Bengaluru , Karnataka Science Educator / Communicator Educa 99 tor Shatifa Iqbal Bengaluru , Karnataka Science Educator / Communicator 100 Dr. Smita Jain Bengaluru , Karnataka Science Educator / Communicator 101 Mr. V P Nandakumar Chennai , Tamil Nadu Science Educator / Communicator 102 Dr. Poorti Kathpalia Delhi , Delhi Science Educator / Communicator 103 Dr. Tv Venkateswaran Delhi , Delhi Science Educator / Communicator 104 Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya Mumbai , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 105 Mr. Pritesh Ranadive Mumbai , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 106 Dr. Rohini Karandikar Mumbai , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 107 Ms. Tuba Khan Mumbai , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 108 Dr. Mugdha Karnik Mumbai , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 109 Mr. Sachin Malegaonkar Nashik , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 110 Mr. Abhijit Chanda New Delhi , Delhi Science Educator / Communicator 111 Mr. Somu Rao Panaji , Goa Science Educator / Communicator 112 Dr. Manojendu Choudhury Pune , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 113 Mr. Rahul Mane Pune , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 114 Prof. Ajit Salunkhe Satara , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 115 Mr. Haridasan Thalaserry , Kerala Science Educator / Communicator 116 Dr. Chitra Joshi Thane , Maharashtra Science Educator / Communicator 117 Dr. Reeteka Sud Bengaluru , Karnataka Researcher (other than above) 118 Dr. Shankar Balasubramanian Boston , USA Researcher (other than above) 119 Prof. T. Jayaraman Chennai , Tamil Nadu Researcher (other than above) 120 Mr. Udaya Maurya Gandhinagar , Gujarat Researcher (other than above) 121 Ms. Batul Pipewala Kolkata , West Bengal Researcher (other than above) 122 Dr. Arunan M. C. Mumbai , Maharashtra Researcher (other than above) 123 Prof. F Minusia Mumbai , Maharashtra Researcher (other than above) 124 Dr. Gagan Baldodiya Mumbai , Maharashtra Researcher (other than above) 125 Mr. Nachiket Raravikar Saratoga , USA Researcher (other than above) 126 Dr. Abdul Nazir Thalassery , Kerala Researcher (other than above) 127 Dr. Dhiraj Dhotre Thane , Maharashtra Researcher (other than above) 128 Dr. Aditi Verma Bengaluru , Karnataka Post-Doctoral Fellow 129 Dr. Chitra P Bengaluru , Karnataka Post-Doctoral Fellow 130 Dr. Laasya Samhita Bengaluru , Karnataka Post-Doctoral Fellow 131 Dr. Pratibha Sanjenbam Bengaluru , Karnataka Post-Doctoral Fellow 132 Dr. Rittik Deb Bengaluru , Karnataka Post-Doctoral Fellow 133 Dr. Suryajith Chillara Haifa , Israel Post-Doctoral Fellow 134 Dr. Pallavi Bhat Leeds , UK Post-Doctoral Fellow 135 Dr. Akshat Singhal Mumbai , Maharashtra Post-Doctoral Fellow 136 Dr. Arkarup Banerjee New York , USA Post-Doctoral Fellow 137 Mr. Amol Patwardhan Seattle , USA Post-Doctoral Fellow 138 Dr. Mehrab Modi Washington DC , USA Post-Doctoral Fellow 139 Mr. Anirudh Chellappa Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 140 Mr. Harish Prakash Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 141 Mr. Joshua John Miranda Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 142 Ms. Rajani Ks Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 143 Mr. Shivansh Singhal Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 144 Ms. Sukhmanpreet Kaur Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 145 Mr. Suraj Jagtap Bengaluru , Karnataka Research Scholar 146 Mr. Harkirat Singh Sahota Garhdiwala , Punjab Research Scholar 147 Mr. Anand Swain Hyderabad , Telangana Research Scholar 148 Mr. Himanshu Srivastava Hyderabad , Telangana Research Scholar 149 Ms. Mugdha Phutane Miraj , Maharashtra Research Scholar 150 Mr. Niladri Patra Mumbai , Maharashtra Research Scholar 151 Mr. Jones Panicker Perumbavoor , Kerala Research Scholar 152 Prof. Archana Shastri Siem Reap , Cambodia Research Scholar 153 Mr. Jyotirmoy Roy Toronto , Canada Research Scholar 154 Dr. Amalorpavanathan Chennai , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 155 Dr. Ganesh Veluswami Chennai , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 156 Prof. Zaibunissa Chennai , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 157 Dr. R.Ramesh Chennai , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 158 Dr. Prince Rajamanickam Coonoor , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 159 Dr. Renukadevi Kadirvelu Cuddalore , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 160 Dr. Veena Rao D In , Karnataka Medical Professional 161 Dr. H. C. Kalita Dibrugarh , Assam Medical Professional 162 Dr. Kamarudeen Ernakulam , Kerala Medical Professional 163 Dr. Suhara Kamaruddin Ernakulam , Kerala Medical Professional 164 Dr. S. J. Saikia Guwahati , Assam Medical Professional 165 Dr. Arun Kumar Manglik Kolkata , West Bengal Medical Professional 166 Dr. Dr Rajat Majumder Kolkata , West Bengal Medical Professional 167 Dr. Subhash C Garai Kolkata , West Bengal Medical Professional 168 Dr. Indrajit Roy Kolkata , West Bengal Medical Professional 169 Dr. Sanjib Mukhopadhyay Kolkata , West Bengal Medical Professional 170 Dr. Dinesh K N Malappuram , Kerala Medical Professional 171 Dr. Kamalakanth Shenoy Mangalore , Karnataka Medical Professional 172 Dr. Srinivasa Kakkilaya Mangaluru , Karnataka Medical Professional 173 Dr. Krishna Mohan Moodbidri , Karnataka Medical Professional 174 Dr. Poorva Abhishek Mumbai , Maharashtra Medical Professional 175 Dr. Shilpa Mukesh Shete Mumbai , Maharashtra Medical Professional 176 Dr. Satish M Rao Nephrologist , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 177 Dr. Sandeep Nayak Puttur Dk , Karnataka Medical Professional 178 Dr. Dinesh Mishra Raipur , Chhattisgarh Medical Professional 179 Dr. Jayaprakas Gopalan Sharjah , UAE Medical Professional 180 Dr. Monisha Gogoi Sivasagar , Assam Medical Professional 181 Dr. Abhijeet Jagtap Solapur , Maharashtra Medical Professional 182 Dr. Anitha Tamilnadu , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 183 Dr. Lalit Kumar Khanra Tamluk , West Bengal Medical Professional 184 Dr. S.P.Agarwala Tangla , Assam Medical Professional 185 Dr. Surendra Babu Thalassery , Kerala Medical Professional 186 Dr. Narandhiran Tiruppatur, Vellore , Tamil Nadu Medical Professional 187 Dr. Ahammed Kutty K Tirur , Kerala Medical Professional 188 Dr. Ananda Rajan Trivandrum , Kerala Medical Professional 189 Dr. Shantanu Abhyankar Wai , Maharashtra Medical Professional 190 Mr. Adesh Bagul Aurangabad , Maharashtra UG/PG student 191 Mr. Prathyush Poduval Bengaluru , Karnataka UG/PG student 192 Mr. Abdul Shabeer Chennai , Tamil Nadu UG/PG student 193 Mr. Vikram Iyer Delhi , Delhi UG/PG student 194 Mr. Pavan Hebbar Edmonton , Canada UG/PG student 195 Ms. Utpola Das Guwahati , Assam UG/PG student 196 Ms. Pooja N Babu Nottingham , UK UG/PG student 197 Mr. Suhas L Pune , Maharashtra UG/PG student 198 Mr. Dhairya Rajguru Vadodara , Gujarat UG/PG student 199 Mr. Kaustubh Shejwalkar Ambernath , Maharashtra 200 Mr. Venkat Auroville , Tamil Nadu 201 Mr. Sridhar V Bengaluru , Karnataka 202 Prof. Pabitra Sen Berkeley , USA 203 Dr. Kabita Laishram Delhi , Delhi 204 Mr. Mahendra Pandey Delhi , Delhi 205 Mr. Shastri Ramachandaran Delhi , Delhi 206 Mr. Subhash Gatade Delhi , Delhi 207 Dr. Tulasi Ram Reddy Guntur , Andhra Pradesh 208 Mr. Khanindra Talukdar Guwahati , Assam 209 Ms. Pranami Das Kamrup (M) , Assam 210 Mr. Joydeep Sil Kolkata , West Bengal 211 Mr. Amish Parmar Mumbai , Maharashtra 212 Ms. Indrani Das Sen Mumbai , Maharashtra 213 Mr. Raamesh Gowri Raghavan Mumbai , Maharashtra 214 Ms. Rashmi Paradkar-Sule Mumbai , Maharashtra 215 Dr. Sarita Kamat Mumbai , Maharashtra 216 Mr. Soham Dighe Mumbai , Maharashtra 217 Mr. Subhir Rajan Mavunkal Mumbai , Maharashtra 218 Mr. Manabendra New Delhi , Delhi 219 Mr. Nikhil Bhope Pune , Maharashtra 220 Mr. Shahul Hameed Ramanathapuram , Tamil Nadu 221 Mr. Ravikant Trimbak Sahasrabudhe Thane , Maharashtra 222 Mr. Shrikant Kirve Thane West , Maharashtra 223 Mr. K.C.Sarma Tihu, Dist. Nalbari , Assam